[Aortic dissection among blacks. Report of 6 Congolese cases]

The authors report on six cases of aortic dissection (AD). The work intended to bring out AD characteristics and attempt to define a profile of African patients who manifested this disease. The diagnosis of AD was determined on the basis of: clinical and radiological criteria (six cases); echocardiographic data (five cases); aortographic and surgical informations (two cases).

There were three males and three females with an average age of 40.2 years, with a variation of +/- 10.6 years (from 17 to 49). The frequency of AD was estimated at 1.8/10,000 admissions considering all causes and 5.4/10,000 for cardiovascular disease. Strain was the only triggering factor--noted in two cases (Observations 2 and 3). All patients suffered from severe arterial hypertension (AHT) of which there was one case of renovascular AHT based on the Takayasu arteritis. All symptoms and physical findings were the same described in literature. Operations were successful on two patients. The four unoperated patients died (tamponade: two cases, undetermined cause: two cases).

The authors conclude as to the similarity of the AD charts described in the literature. However they stress the almost exclusive role of AHT in African studies series as well as that, in rare cases, of Takayasu's disease. They recommend preventing AD through the sustained and effective treatment of AHT.